GH 301: The New Hollywood

Course Description

Adrift in generational change during the 1960s, the old Hollywood studio system found itself at a loss to connect with the American youth. Technological advancement and large spectacle films failed to attract a young, college-educated crowd and their taste for risk-taking cinematic art inspired by European and Japanese filmmakers. Ticket purchases fell to severe lows. However, a storm of events converged that transitioned filmmaking power from the Old Hollywood system to the filmmaker, or auteur.

A new crop of filmmakers and storytellers emerged, from university film schools and low-budget production companies, creating visual stories inspired by cinematic and plot techniques utilized by French New Wave, Italian, and Japanese auteurs. The Hollywood system gave their budgets over to these young storytellers, watched movie attendance climb, and reaped a whirlwind of profit from the new “hip” audience. From Bonnie & Clyde (1967) to the early 1980s, audiences delighted in an era of experimental storytelling, ambiguous thematic messages, graphic violence, and political/social content that the recently deconstructed Production code never allowed.

Course Details

This course examines the genesis, scope, and impact of the New Hollywood era, or American New Wave, film movement. We will examine cultural and industry factors which created and sustained the period of film history from the mid-1960s into the early 1980s. Multiple films, selected as samples of a chronological timeline, will be screened and their respective placement and contemporary impact examined. Selections include Bonnie & Clyde (1967), The Graduate (1967), Dirty Harry (1971), Chinatown (1974), Taxi Driver (1976), Sorcerer (1977), and more.

In accordance with GH course objectives, students will learn the fundamentals of research design via multiple assignments including but not limited to a substantial research paper, digital poster, and presentation. This course will also build on fundamentals students have learned in their respective GH 101 and GH 201 courses.

Scheduling Note

Tuesdays are designated for discussion of film selection, lecture, readings, and critical thinking questions.

Thursday’s time slot of 2:00PM—5:30PM is reserved for the class to screen the upcoming week’s designated film. The film starts at 2:00PM and the class session dismisses when the film ends. Most runtimes for selected course films are approximately one hour and forty-five minutes. A couple selections approach 3 hours in length. Attendance is required.

Instructor: Professor Matt Bird

Matt Bird graduated from Indiana State University (B.S. in English) and IU—Bloomington (M.L.S. w/ Rare Books and Manuscripts specialization). He is the Student Research and Engagement Coordinator for the ISU Honors College. Matt’s historical Honors course offerings include the topics of classical mythology, America and censorship, book and library history, film/culture history, and weird fiction.

Please contact Professor Bird if you have questions about this course.